News, notes and reader questions about the San Francisco 49ers

March 9, 2012

There are only 3 Â½ more days until the start of free agency (1 p.m. Tuesday.) Here's where things stand with the list of 49ers who were pending free agents when the season ended:

CB Tramaine Brock (Exclusive Rights Free Agent): Plans to sign his exclusive-rights tender of $540,000 in coming days. He could be earmarked as the No. 3 cornerback depending on what happens to Carlos Rogers.

LB Blake Costanzo: The 49ers and Costanzo's agent have had little discussion. The special teams ace seems likely to reach free agency barring a last-minute deal.

WR Ted Ginn: Ginn agreed to lop $1.2 million from his contract in order to become an unrestricted free agent this year. He seems eager to test the market.

S Dashon Goldson: The 49ers effectively kept him in San Francisco for one more year by giving him the franchise tag. His new agent, Ben Dogra, will work on a long-term deal with the team over the spring and summer.

LB Tavares Gooden: The 49ers want Gooden back and have made him an offer, but the linebacker seems to want to test the market.

LB Larry Grant (Restricted Free Agent): He'll be offered an original-round, $1.26 million tender in the coming days. That means that if Grant were to get a contract offer from another team, and the 49ers did not match that offer, they would be compensated with a seventh-round pick. UPDATE 10:45 a.m.: In fact, Grant was offered such a tender today.

WR Joshua Morgan: Morgan wants to test the market where his youth and potential promise to make him a sought-after commodity.

TE Justin Peelle: Peelle was signed off the street following Nate Byham's knee injury. Byham is nearly recovered, which makes Peelle expendable.

RG Chilo Rachal: The inconsistent former second rounder likely will get attention on the open market given his youth. Rachal turns 26 on Thursday.

CB Carlos Rogers: Rogers wants a bigger deal than the 49ers are willing to pay, and he will test his value on the open market. If Rogers, who turns 31 before next season, doesn't get the deal he is seeking, he's likely to return to San Francisco.

FB Moran Norris: Norris only was active for five games last season, and it's very hard to see the 33-year-old fullback being re-signed.

QB Alex Smith: The two sides currently are at an impasse. It's likely the divide will be bridged by the 13th or soon thereafter. But Smith's advisors, who also represent Peyton Manning, will get a very good look at the quarterback market while shopping Manning in the next few days. They may make the 49ers sweat by testing that market.

S Reggie Smith: He wants a bigger role in the defense and knows he won't get it in San Francisco as long as Goldson is on the squad. He'll shop his wares on the open market.

OL Adam Snyder: The offensive line functioned much better with Snyder at right guard than Rachal. The versatile offensive lineman also is the top (only?) backup at center. It seems that he would have been signed by now.

DB C.J. Spillman (RFA): Spillman signed a three-year deal worth more than a special teams ace usually gets. That's because the 49ers think Spillman has real potential at safety, too.

WR Brett Swain (RFA): Like Grant, Swain was a seventh-round pick. The 49ers, however, may not tender him at all considering he was an off-the-street acquisition this past season. They'd like Swain in camp, but they may not commit to the $1.26 million that comes with an original-round tender.

DT Will Tukuafu (EFA): Signed a two-year deal for the league minimum on Thursday. He'll compete for a roster spot behind starters Justin Smith and Ray McDonald.

S Madieu Williams: He proved in 2011 that he has moved past a serious neck injury suffered earlier in his career. Like Reggie Smith, he's looking for a bigger role on defense but could return if he doesn't find it.

MATTHEW BARROWS

Matt was born in Blacksburg, Va., and attended the University of Virginia. He graduated in 1995, went to Northwestern for a journalism degree a year later, and got his first job at a South Carolina daily in 1997. He joined The Bee as a Metro reporter in 1999 and started covering the 49ers in 2003. His favorite player of all time is Darrell Green.